Another former Wildcat is making his way to the Forty Acres to rejoin Johnny Nansen.
The Texas Longhorns needed to find a way to bolster the interior defensive line and did just that with the addition of former Arizona Wildcats defensive tackle Bill Norton, who entered the transfer portal last week and committed to the Longhorns on Monday, following an official visit to the Forty Acres for the Orange-White game.
BREAKING: Former Arizona DL Bill Norton has Committed to Texas, he tells @on3sports
The 6’6 325 DL totaled 43 Tackles and 2 Forced Fumbles in his college career
Will have 1 year of eligibility remaining https://t.co/lGfd6OVJcH pic.twitter.com/mwJSgoHbX5
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 22, 2024
Norton has one year of eligibility remaining.
A Memphis product, Norton was a consensus four-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting class when he signed with Georgia as the No. 162 player nationally and the No. 9 strong-side defensive end, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
In four seasons with the Bulldogs, the 6’6, 325-pounder was a limited contributor who redshirted in 2019, appearing in 26 games over four seasons while recording 12 total tackles. Most of those appearances came in 2022, when Norton played in 13 games, including 46 defensive snaps, recording three tackles, including one tackle for loss.
When Norton transferred to Arizona, he was a significant pickup for Nansen and then-head coach Jedd Fisch. Afforded a greater opportunity for playing time outside of Athens and the parade of elite recruits on the defensive line for Georgia, Norton recorded 32 tackles (14 solo, 18 assists) with 2.5 tackles for loss, three passes broken up, five quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles.
- The 395 snaps played by Norton were split almost equally playing in the A and B gaps as he was credited with 16 stops by Pro Football Focus and graded out at 70.6 overall and 69.7 as a run defender, roughly average grades.
Norton becomes the second Arizona defensive tackle to make the move to Austin, following Tiaoalii Savea, who transferred during the winter transfer window. Both of those moves follow the addition of co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Johnny Nansen, who was the defensive coordinator for the Wildcats for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.